Fuel-economizer



G. L. PROTZ.

FUEL ECONOMIZER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1918.

1,392,447. Patehted 0% 4,1921.

Jade? CieozggaZLBflZ UNITED ,STATEVSFTPATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LL PROTZ, OI CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO.

- FUEL-ECONOMIZER.'

. operating with a combustion chamber in which the draft is created by the existence of a partial vacuum, which is created by the expansion of exhaust steam or other similar expansible medium. 1

It is one of the objects of the invention to augment the vacuum created by this expan- S1011.

It is a further object of the invention to i provide a means for accomplishing this end which is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, and which may be easily installed for operation. It is an addedobject of the invention .to provide the device with a means whereby the same may be regulated, so thatthe device will operate properly under various conditions, and to accomplish this from a point which may be remote from the device itself and within access of the person in control; a

The invention will be herein explained in conjunction with a locomotive boiler in which the exhaust steam causes a partial vacuum to exist which creates draft in the fire box of the locomotive, before it isdischarged through the smoke stack of the engine. The embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated contemplates the use of a device which is interposed at any suitable point between the exhaust nozzle and the smoke stack or outlet of the engine, and which will not cause any back pressure when the steam is discharged or emitted from the nozzle. i

The invention will be more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which will be explained in detail, and in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the forward end of a locomotive boiler showing the device applied foruse; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1.

The invention consists of the member 10 Specification of Ilettersratent. :Patentefl Oct, 4,1921,

1918. Serial No. 229,715.

and its association with variousldevi'ces which may be such as illustrated in the drawings. .As illustrated in the drawings thismemberIO may be inserted through the smokestacklll and. is of a length suflicient to extend beyond each end thereof. This member may be permanently fixed to the smoke stack or,may bemovably held with I relation thereto,-as found desirable. The

member 10 consists of the parallel portions 12 and 13 and the transverse portion 14,

which may be removably fastened. by the clips 15: and 16-tothe Smokestack of the engine. 5 To the uppermost end of the member 10 may be attached the link 17, which in turn is connected to the bell crank lever 18. operating rod 19 which extends to the en gine cab where it is within access to the operator. The transverse portion 14 of the member 10 is arranged directly above the nozzle 20 and is spaced a suitable distance therefrom so as not to interfere with the free. escape of the steam when same is dis- To this bell crank lever is attached the charged from the nozzle. This arrangement eliminates any possibilty of back pressure in the nozzle which would interfere with .the proper operation'thereof. The nozzle 20 is arranged in the usual manner in front of the fire tubes 21, but hasits upper extremity arranged within the housing generally designated 22, which is composed of the dizghragm 23 and the wire screen portion 24. y arranging. the member 10 above the nozzle so that the same is in the path of the exhaust steam'when itis emitted from the a nozzle the exhaust steam strikes the member 10 and is split prior to entering the stack. This causes'the stack to be completely filled with. exhaust steam which considerably augments the vacuum which exists in the forward portion of the engine. This causes an increased draft in the fire box and results in the consumption of more of-the prodthe engine and reduces the fuel consumption 7 materially. By manipulating the lever mechanism so that the portion 14: of the device may assume various positions or distances from the nozzle and the stack, the device may be regulated to compensate for various contingencies which may present themselves, such as variations in the quality of the heating medium, atmosphericor other conditions.

From the foregoing explanation of the device it can be seen that an extremely simple construction is provided whereby the draft in a fire box may be augmented without interfering with the free escape of the expansible medium, and that the products of combustion will be thoroughly, consumed,v

which thus reduces the amount'of fuel-necessary to perform a given amount of work.

Having-shown and described one form of the invention, it'is obvious that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ters Patent is: r I

1 -1. In a device of the class described'the combination of a chamber havingjan outlet, a fire box and a communication between the fire box and the chamber, an exhaust port exhausting into the chamber and a bar posi- I tioned in the chamber and arranged between the exhaust port and the outlet vtransversely to' the outlet and exhaust port, said barjper- What I claim and desire to cover by Let-' a fire box and a communication between the fire box and the chamber, an exhaust port exhausting into the chamber,-and a member having a portion positioned in the' chamber and arranged between the exhaust port and the outlet, said portion permitting the exhaust from the exhaust port'to at all'times pass into the outlet,'said memberhaving a portion which is arranged transversely to the exhaust port, anda portion extending through the outlet, said member being se'- cured for longitudinal movementand having means provided for actuating the same. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day "of March A. D.,' 1918.

1 y GEORGE PROTZ, 

